System for third party management of product manufacture ordering by a franchise based upon approved products of franchisor

Abstract

A system includes a data storage device having franchisor approved product information. The system includes a franchisor network interface by which a franchisor can communicate with the data storage device and approve the product information, and a franchisee network interface providing network access by a franchisee to the franchisor approved product information. Product selecting and ordering by the franchisee is based upon the approved product information. The system also includes a third party network interface providing a third party access to the product orders and by which the third party manages access of the franchisor approved product information by the franchisee. The third party network interface permits the third party to communicate a product order to a manufacturer. The system further includes a manufacturer network interface by which the manufacturer can communicate with the data storage device to process the received product order in accordance with the approved product information.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention is directed to a network based system and method to manage programs for the benefit of an end-user, such as a franchisor, parent company or company central office, with its sub-end-users, such as a franchisee, dealer or regional office. In particular, the present invention facilitates product orders by a sub-end-user based upon approved product(s) or specifications for products set out by an end-user.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The ability for a centralized decision maker (end-user) to set up programs including the provision of approved products or specifications usable by its related sub-users (sub-end-users) requires an end-user to make such approval and then to transmit the approved product information to its sub-end-users. Programs of this type are often set up in situations between a franchisor, a parent company, or company central office and its franchisee(s), dealer(s), or regional offices(s).[0003]A common situation wher...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]The present invention provides a system and method by which an end-user can effectively communicate its approved product information or product specifications to its sub-end-users. Thus, such an end-user can more effectively manage any program that it wishes to communicate and support with its sub-end-users.

[0008]The present invention also provides a system and method by which an end-user to sub-end-user program can be effectively managed by a third party. That is, instead of merely servicing the communication need between the end-user and the sub-end-user as a service provider, an interested third party can also market its services, materials or other products to the sub-end-users effectively while facilitating the end-users need to communicate its program or approved information to its sub-end-users.

[0010]Preferably, the system and method permits a third party, such as a material supplier to manage product orders by sub-end-users of product approved by an end-user. More preferably, the system and method can facilitate order placement by a sub-end-user, which order is communicated with a manufacturer, and which manufacturer may accept or provide a counter-proposal in response. The order may include product specifications as approved by the end-user with or without other options and may specify selected product materials based upon a particular application and in accordance with approved materials of the end-user with or without other options. Another advantage is that an interested third party, such as a material supplier or manufacturer, can connect warranty compliance certification information along with the completion of the order based upon the manufacturer warranty or material warranty. The manufacturers may be chosen by a sub-end-user from an approved list and / or regional list provided by the end-user and communicated as well by the system and method of the present invention. Any number of other options, selections, with similar parties or additional parties may be further accommodated by the system and method of the present invention.

Problems solved by technology

However, without access of a third party to internal communication means of a company, it is difficult to be an effective part of their program.

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